The first woman elected to head the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) views the human rights situation in the country as “still critical and worrying,” advocating for decisive action from judicial bodies to ensure greater institutional accountability.
“Judging by the episodes we have witnessed in recent years, the human rights situation in Mozambique is still critical,” Thera Dai stated in an interview with Lusa. “It is essential that we secure effective action from administrative and judicial bodies to guarantee both the protection of human rights and proper accountability.”
According to the incoming leader—the first female president elected in the OAM’s 32-year history—the association has traditionally maintained a highly interventionist stance regarding human rights defense. She pointed out that while Mozambique possesses the necessary laws and legal mechanisms for public protection, enforcement remains a major hurdle.
“The Bar Association has been very active in this regard. We recently released a comprehensive report on the state of human rights in Mozambique following the electoral process, and we must openly admit that yes, the situation is worrying,” Dai remarked.
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For the lawyer, who won the election in April and is scheduled to officially assume office in July, the country must guarantee strict compliance with the human rights mechanisms, domestic laws, and international conventions to which the state is bound. She stressed that these legal instruments are already well known to authorities.
“We need to ensure that these very instruments are respected and enforced by those in power because they are not unknown; we all know them. It is crucial to enforce them, if only for the protection of our citizens,” the president-elect affirmed.
Thera Tobias Dai won the April election with 783 votes, succeeding Carlos Martins. She secured victory over rival candidates Stayleir Marroquim, who obtained 463 votes, Pedro Macarringue with 414 votes, and Samuel Hlavanguane, who received 108 votes.
Holding a law degree from the Higher Institute of Sciences and Technology of Mozambique, Thera Dai is a senior lawyer with over 17 years of professional experience, specializing in corporate law, foreign investment, exchange control, natural resources, public law, and real estate.
Throughout her career within the OAM, she has built an active institutional path, frequently participating in initiatives defending professional legal prerogatives and reinforcing the rule of law across Mozambique.
